🌱 Skills Exploration Day 2025 at Jenner School 🚀 Innovation. Sustainability. Imagination. This year’s Skills Exploration Day challenged Jenner students to dream big and design a self-sustainable, eco-friendly mode of transportation—and they delivered with creativity that went beyond expectations. From the moment the projects were unveiled, it was clear that our young innovators were thinking boldly about the future of our planet. Students showcased: 🤖 Robots built to support green travel, solve real-world environmental problems, and assist with energy-efficient mobility. ⏳ Time machines imagined through a sustainability lens—because protecting the future starts with understanding it. 🚌 Eco-buses with rooftop gardens, where plants not only help clean the air but also serve as a creative form of “green employment.” Students designed systems where tending the rooftop garden could help riders pay for their bus fare, blending environmental stewardship with social innovation. The energy, teamwork, and vision displayed by our students were truly inspiring. Their models weren’t just projects—they were blueprints for a more sustainable tomorrow. 👏 A huge congratulations to all participants for pushing boundaries and embracing the challenge with heart and imagination. The future looks brighter—and greener—because of you. #SkilldExplorationDay2025 #JennerSchool #StudentInnovation #Sustainability #FutureEngineers #EcoFriendlyDesign #kindlehearts #prairierose #forgefutures

Parents: if there is change in normal bus routines please let Katie or the Office know so we can help coordinate. Your child’s safety is our top priority.

The Jenner Grades 4-6 class invaded the Student Wellness Leadership Conference 2025 at Medicine Hat College this past week and lived to tell the tale. We scored some awesome new games, activities and strategies to pump up some fresh wellness initiatives at our school. Big thanks to Katie and Amanda for driving and not getting lost.

<p>Additional information can be found in the November 25, 2025, Board Meeting Agenda package: <a href="https://www.myprps.com/news/november-25-2025-public-board-meeting-20251124160216">https://www.myprps.com/news/november-25-2025-public-board-meeting-20251124160216</a></p><p>------</p><p><strong>Executive Report</strong></p><p><i>Yuill School of Agriculture:&nbsp;</i>Assistant Superintendent Boyd Craven shared that the extended mild fall weather has allowed work to begin on preparing the land for the new Yuill School of Agriculture building. He also noted that discussions are underway with Medicine Hat College and SAIT to develop dual credit opportunities connected to the new high school agriculture program.</p><p><strong>2024-2025 Audited Financial Statement Approval</strong></p><p>The Board reviewed and approved the audited financial statements for the 2024-2025 school year, which show that the division remains in a strong and stable financial position. The audit, completed by MNP LLP, provided a clean opinion, confirming that the statements are accurate and follow all required public sector accounting standards. Total revenues for the year reached $63.44 million, with increases in provincial funding, school fees, and community donations.</p><p>Expenses for the year totaled $62.86 million, reflecting the full cost of operating schools across the division. Most of these dollars supported classroom learning, with $45.59 million spent on instruction from early childhood through Grade 12. Student transportation, which ensures students can travel safely to and from school each day, totaled $7.63 million. Another $7.21 million was used for operations and maintenance to keep school buildings running. System administration accounted for $2.36 million, and $77,096 supported external services.</p><p>The division ended the year with an annual surplus of $580,624, helping strengthen overall financial stability. Cash balances across the division and schools increased to $10.78 million, and total capital assets reached $48.2 million, reflecting continued investment in buildings, equipment, and learning environments.</p><p>Overall, the audit confirms that Prairie Rose is financially responsible, stable, and well positioned to continue supporting students, staff, and schools.</p><p><strong>Redcliff Building Name Change and New School Code</strong></p><p>The board approved a new school name and requested a new school code for the CASA Mental Health Program launching in February 2026. The classroom will be located in the Redcliff Mennonite Alternative Program building, which will be renamed The Link as part of the new CASA program.</p><p><strong>Other Items:</strong></p><ul><li>Trustees provided a brief update on their attendance at the recent Public School Boards Association and Alberta School Boards Association meetings. The events included professional development sessions, a fireside conversation with the Minister of Education, and elections for provincial committees. Trustees appreciated the opportunity to connect with colleagues and bring relevant insights back to support division work.</li></ul>

Parents please send children with full winter gear! Snowpants, hats, mitts, coats and snow boots!

Parent Teacher Interviews will be cancelled tonight for safety of staff returning home. Please contact office to reschedule tomorrow or a phone call from the teacher.

<p>The next Prairie Rose Public Schools board meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the PRPS Division Office in Dunmore <strong>starting at 12:45 p.m.&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Board Meeting Agenda Package: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1md6XaqFChEF_SsZ-FgsQ1dNRYtBVsY-n/view?usp=drive_link">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1md6XaqFChEF_SsZ-FgsQ1dNRYtBVsY-n/view?usp=drive_link</a></p>

This week at Jenner School:

<p>This week Prairie Rose Public Schools had the chance to turn an unexpected discovery into a golden learning opportunity. A Medicine Hat resident spotted a honey bee hive 🌱🐝💛 in a very unusual spot. These were not native bees, but the hardy farm friendly kind often found around pastures and fields across Southeastern Alberta.</p><p>What made this hive especially buzzworthy was the way the bees built it. Instead of choosing a cozy hollow tree, shed, or grainery, the colony created a large exposed nest in a place where hives like this are rarely seen. It seems they were not pleased with their former home and decided to bee-gone and start fresh. It is incredibly rare to witness bees rebuild like this, especially out in the open.</p><p>With temperatures dipping, time was of the essence. Bees need a protected space, a steady food source, and an insulated environment to form a winter nucleus. During winter the colony gathers around the queen and vibrates to keep her at a steady twenty five degrees. Talk about a natural heater.</p><p>In coordination with the City of Medicine Hat Parks and Recreation Department, the hive was carefully located, collected, and transported to Neubauer Farms. A very special thank you goes to Stella Sehn and Sheldon Hill, our long standing partners in the Prairie Rose Honey Program. Their expertise, quick action, and ongoing commitment to PRPS made this entire rescue possible.</p><p>The hive is now settling in with the rest of the Prairie Rose Honey colonies until their future home at the new Yuill School of Agriculture is ready.</p><p>This bee adventure is more than a rescue. It is an early preview of how PRPS students will learn to grow, protect, and strengthen the agriculture community in Southeastern Alberta. Real experiences, real ecosystems, real stewardship.</p>

This week at Jenner School.

Please message Katie at the school office for Parent Teacher Interview Times Nov. 24 & 25.

Thank you to our friends from Ralston School - PRSD #8 for including us in their Remembrance Day Event today. A first of many partner school events. #kindlehearts #prairierose

Jenner School students and staff will attend the Remembrance Day Ceremony on Monday, November 10 at Ralston School. View the artwork of Grades 4-6 students. Lest we forget.

This week at Jenner School:

<p><i>Credit: George Lee, The Macleod Gazette, Local Journalism Initiative</i><br><i>Published: November 2, 2025</i></p><p>A multi-billion-dollar Alberta industry with rural roots – literally and figuratively – will reap the benefits of a new educational champion in Cypress county, the legislature heard last week.</p><p>The Yuill School of Agriculture will give high school students “the knowledge, skills and hands-on training they need to thrive in one of Alberta’s most cherished and essential industries,” Justin Wright said.</p><p>The collegiate school’s development “marks a significant milestone for public education and opportunity in southeastern Alberta,” said Wright, the UCP member for Cypress-Medicine Hat and the parliamentary secretary for rural health, south.</p><p>Construction is set to start next spring on 76 acres of land just southeast of Medicine Hat on the south side of the Trans-Canada Highway. Opening of the school is slated for the fall of 2027.</p><p>A Prairie Rose Public Schools news release says the school for grades 10-12 “marks an important step forward in advancing agricultural education and workforce development in Alberta, combining industry partnerships, community collaboration and innovative learning opportunities for students.”</p><p>Support from the Alberta government includes $725,000 towards start-up expenses. The Yuill Family Foundation donated land worth about $1 million and $600,000 towards construction. In partnership with Neubauer Farms, Prairie Rose will operate the school.</p><p>Students will be able to earn certifications, complete dual-credit courses and gain practical experience in crop and livestock management, agri-business, greenhouse operations, agricultural technology and other areas of the industry, says the school division release.&nbsp;</p><p>Neubauer Farms and the school division will work together on the school’s design and curriculum “to balance academic learning with industry-relevant experience.”</p><p>Wright told the legislature: “Agriculture is more than just an industry in Alberta. It’s the heart and soul of our province. It’s where our values, culture and entrepreneurial spirit were born. It’s a force that has shaped the resilient and tight-knit communities we proudly call home.”</p><p>He continued: “With the creation of the Yuill School of Agriculture, we’re investing in future generations who will carry forward Alberta’s proud legacy of agriculture.”</p><p>The Yuill family has a storied history in and beyond Medicine Hat, going back to the development of the clay pottery industry in the earlier 1900s. The establishment of CHAT-AM and CHAT-TV in the 1940s and 1950s foreshadowed the Yuills’ advancement of cable broadcasting.</p><p>The family is also big in sports franchise ownership and league development, including the ownership of the Medicine Hat A’s, a farm team of the Oakland A’s. It became the Medicine Hat Blue Jays and operated for 25 seasons as an affiliate of the (not this year) World Series-winning Toronto Blue Jays.</p><p>Since its founding in 2007, the Yuill Family Foundation has put more than $9 million worth of philanthropy towards capital projects and programs.</p><p>For new collegiate schools, Alberta’s 2025 budget included $22 million in start-up funding over three years and $43 million in capital supports.</p><p>The province’s website says that collegiate schools “bring together students with similar interests to benefit from enriched programming, specialized facilities and enhanced learning opportunities through a unique delivery model.”</p><p>Collegiate schools provide “a clear pathway” into post-secondary education and careers in students’ chosen fields, the site says. Eligible are public and accredited private schools that meet program criteria.</p><p>Agriculture and the agri-food industry contributed about &nbsp;$10.3 billion to Alberta’s GDP in 2023 and employed more than 83,000 people, published sources say.</p><p>Wright concluded: “The is more than just a school. It’s a promise to our youth, our province, and our future.”</p>

We had an outstanding presentation today with the return of Alberta’s Musical Theatre Company, who presented their adaptation of Pinocchio. We were joined by our friends from Ralston School. #kindlehearts #prairierose

Costume Parade at Jenner School!! #kindlehearts

<p>The Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees held its annual Organizational Meeting, where trustees selected the Board Chair and Vice Chair for the upcoming year. During the meeting, all members of the Board were sworn into their new or returning positions by the Returning Officer. The Organizational Meeting was followed by a Special Board Meeting to address current division matters and upcoming priorities.</p><p>Link to the Organizational Meeting Agenda: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FWss0nGIzM2a1vw2hxFsfHYYuIJrwR35/view?usp=drive_link">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FWss0nGIzM2a1vw2hxFsfHYYuIJrwR35/view?usp=drive_link</a></p><p>-----</p><h3><strong>Organizational Meeting</strong></h3><p>Each fall the board of trustees elects a new or returning board chair, vice-chair and other key board representative positions. In addition to their regular duties, the following trustees will represent and attend events on behalf of Prairie Rose Public Schools during the 2025-2026 year:</p><p>✔️ Patty Rooks, Board Chair<br>✔️ Pam Cursons, Vice-Chair<br>✔️ Representative for the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) - Pam Cursons<br>✔️ ASBA Alternate - Nancy Haraga<br>✔️ Representative for the Public School Boards Association (PSBA) - Janel Vossler<br>✔️ PSBAA Alternate - Graeme Dennis<br>✔️ Teachers Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) - Pam Cursons<br>✔️ Representative on the Rural Caucus of Alberta - Patty Rooks</p><h3><strong>Special Board Meeting</strong></h3><p><strong>PRPS Division Calendar</strong></p><p>The Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees approved modifications to the 2025-2026 school year calendar, changing the two November professional development days (November 7 and November 10) to instructional days for students. Trustees expressed that boards have not yet been advised whether there will be any adjustments or accommodations to student assessments as a result of the strike. It was noted that recovering some of the lost instructional time is particularly important at the high school level, where schools operate on semesters. The Board approved the changes with the understanding that further adjustments may be made once additional information is provided by Alberta Education. <a href="https://www.myprps.com/calendar">www.myprps.com/calendar</a></p>

<p><strong>Subject: Return to Classes – October 29, 2025</strong></p><p>Good afternoon PRPS families,</p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools is sharing an important update regarding the return to classes following recent labour action. Students will return to class on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, and school buses will be running on their regular schedules.</p><p><strong>School Calendar Adjustments</strong><br>To help recover instructional time lost during the labour disruption, the Board of Trustees has approved adjustments to the school calendar. The two previously scheduled SI/PD Days on November 7 and November 10 will now become regular in-class learning days for students. Remembrance Day (November 11) will remain a statutory holiday, and schools will be closed on that day.</p><p>We understand that some parents and guardians may have already made plans for these dates. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we work to support students in re-establishing routines and regaining valuable learning time. If your child is unable to attend on these added instructional days, please contact your school directly.</p><p><strong>Fees, Assessments, Activities, Events, etc.</strong><br>We know parents will have questions related to several non-instructional related items, including fees that have been paid, grades and exam accommodations, extracurricular activities, cancelled events, etc. While we do not currently have all the answers, we will be working closely with school staff to review each situation and determine the best path forward. As more information becomes available, updates will be shared with impacted families.</p><p><strong>Next Steps</strong><br>The past month has not been easy for our staff, students, or families. We want to sincerely thank everyone for their patience, cooperation, and support during this time. As operations resume, we ask for continued compassion and understanding—recognizing that not everyone will return with the same feelings or experiences.</p><p>Our shared priority remains clear: helping students get back on track, re-engaged with their learning, and reconnected with their peers and school communities.</p><p>Thank you for your partnership and understanding as we return to regular school operations.</p><p>Sincerely,</p><p>Patty Rooks<br>Board Chair, Prairie Rose Public Schools</p><p>Reagan Weeks<br>Superintendent, Prairie Rose Public Schools</p>